Our Story

Askari Tembo set up in the north of England in 2014 to provide protection and security services with a key difference - we make it personal.

As a family run business with roots in the military, we are deeply committed to the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge. We recruit former service personnel from the armed forces and blue light services because we share common bonds and values honed by training and experience in the field - integrity, trust, loyalty, discretion, courage and absolute professionalism.

We’re not here to follow the herd and our name says it all. Askari is Swahili for warrior and tembo means elephant.

At Askari Tembo, we never forget what you value the most and you can trust us to take as much care of your people and property as we do of our own. It’s a personal service and you have direct access to our directors at all times.

From our office in Harrogate, our operations and administration team run assignments nationwide and overseas - and we have a growing reputation for high-profile brands and VIP events.

Our services and staff are registered, certified, and fully insured - and most importantly led by experts with years of operational experience delivering security and protection services across three continents.

MAURICE MANN

Maurice’s skills, knowledge and values honed by careers in the military and in private security are what make Askari Tembo stand out from the herd.

Equally at home protecting Her Majesty during the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen’s Birthday Parade, or on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Maurice is used to high pressure situations where anything can happen. He is an expert at risk assessment, operational logistics, team building and leadership.

Maurice began his military career in theBlues and Royals Mounted Regiment, taking part in various state occasions before joining the Household Cavalry Regiment and completing two operational tours of Afghanistan, working in hostile environments. As a military training instructor, he was later deployed to Kenya to supervise and train British and Kenyan forces.

Since leaving the Army, Maurice has qualified as a fully licensed security professional and worked within the security industry in the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Founding Askari Tembo in 2014, Maurice’s mission was to create a security company founded on core military values – integrity, commitment, trust, discretion and courage – staffed by a family of professionals who understand what a job requires – and have the operational skills and experience to deliver. A security company that offers a personal service because it believes in safeguarding your values as well as your assets.

SARAH MANN

A background in recruitment and customer service has given Sarah all the right tools to understand a client’s needs and put the right team together to meet them.As first point of contact for customers, her primary role is delivering exceptional customer service which is why she is available to speak to clients 24/7.

In addition to managing the office and day to day admin, Sarah uses her HR skills to maintain Askari Tembo’s family of highly trained and licensed security professionals. She – alongside Maurice – personally vets all new security agents via carefully refined processes. And with in-depth knowledge of each agent, she knows exactly how to find the right people for the job, ensuring they have the most suitable skills and personal attributes to match a contract or meet a security challenge.

LEIGH WOMBWELL

Leadership and management skills proved in action over a 22-year military career makes Leigh the perfect operations manager for Askari Tembo. He began serving with the Royal Navy in the Submarine Service, conducting worldwide operations. As a troop commander in the Royal Marines, Leigh conducted anti-piracy operations in the Middle East. After leaving the service, Leigh joined the private security sector developing new skills completing both hostile and maritime contracts.

At Askari Tembo, Leigh works closely with both founders to plan and execute solutions for clients. He believes preparation and anticipation are key to effective security – as well as using a tightly-knit team of professionals with operational experience who know exactly how to respond in every situation.

Our Agents

Every security agent at Askari Tembo is a highly trained professional and the majority have either a military or blue light services background. These men and women have never forgotten the codes of conduct of the forces that trained them and loyalty, motivation and dedication is part of their DNA.

Askari Tembo personally vets all agents who are selected for their operational and social skills. Our security agents are presentable, polite, smartand adaptable – able to blend in anywhere from a private wedding or VIP event to a film set. Fully licenced, knowledgeable in their field of work and with extensive operational experience, our staff have wide ranging skill sets so we can pick the right personnel – or team – for every job from close protection of a family member to safeguarding assets at an event.